“Four Hundred” Farewell! « DragRaceCanada.com

“Four Hundred” Farewell!

by editor on Jun.17, 2023, under International Dateline

Australia’s Willowbank Raceway hosts the final chapter for the Aeroflow 400 Thunder Drag Racing Series….

The 56th running of the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals at Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway marked the end of an era for the Aeroflow 400 Thunder Drag Racing Series.

That sanction organization will cease to exist moving forward as Australia’s drag racing community will instead set itself to embrace the newly formed NDRC (National Drag Racing Championship) series which will makes its debut next October.

The new NDRC is designed to “finally” unify Australian drag racing under one national championship chase for both Group One (Professional) and (Group 2) Sportsman competitors under the guiding principle of ‘One Way, Forward.’ It’s inaugural season will feature an 11-race Group One event calender.

Despite the impending “changing of the guard” for drag racing sanctioning for Australia, the 2023 edition Gulf Western Oil Winternationals (this country’s single largest annual drag race) kept up it’s high reputation as it was run off in a stylish and supportive manner. That included an excellent car count, some national performance records set, overflow fan support and Chamber of Commerce perfect weather conditions.

History will show the final 400 Thunder Event Drag Racing Series event winners as — highlighted below!

New Zealand native Morice McMillin was consistently quick while winning the very last 400 Thunder Fuel FC title. His best time came in the final round running a superb 4.702 secs at 322.50 mph (1/4 mile!) driving Graeme Cowin’s Aeroflow Toyota.

Driving this Rocket Industries sponsored Ford Mustang – Brandon Gosbell recorded the quickest time in Australia FC history at a national record smashing 4.693 secs! (1/4 mile!)

Very cool Ford Mustangs prevailed at Willowbank with Zoran Gajic (top) scoring in the 5.85 secs index Pro Mod class and Paul Cannuli dominating the Pro Slammer class. Cannuli had the quickest run of the event in PS at 5.684 secs.

Pro Alcohol racing – which features dragster vs funny car had an unexpected winner with Greg Clayton prevailing in his Valvoline-sponsored Firebird.

Tyronne Tremaye won the Pro Stock event title when he beat is brother Aaron in the championship round. Aaron had earlier clinched his 6th career Australian Pro Stock season championship title.

Luke Crowley won the Winternationals Pro Stock Bike title. His 7.089 secs in the final was low ET.

Sportsman Racing featured no less then 13 eliminators during the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals and that included titles going to Toby Austin (Supercharged Outlaws), Jaidyn Seng (Pro Radial), Nathan Ward (Performance Bike), Craig Edwards (Extreme Bike), Mathew Barron (Top Sportsman), Ace Edwards (Super Sedan), Modified (Simon Barlow), Modified Bike (Tammy Goldthorpe), Super Street (Timothy Welsh Pledge), Paul Neilsen (Real Street), Nixon Cannuli (Junior Dragster) and James Lowday (Junior Bike).